The Pit He Dug

Shao Xingfan had initially been dissatisfied with his assignment to Skyline Group, feeling that his talents were being wasted there.

But now, he had no desire to leave Skyline Group at all.

Talk about a resounding slap to his own face.

"Alright," Lin Xuan said, getting down to business. "Take me to see the game."

"Sure," Shao Xingfan nodded.

Lin Xuan glanced at the backend, then played a round of Honor of Kings on his phone before nodding in satisfaction. "Good, this game should be ready."

Lei Hui, standing nearby, asked respectfully, "Boss, does that mean we can arrange for game testing now?"

"Game testing?" Lin Xuan tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, lost in thought for a moment before speaking. "How’s the progress on Starlight Group’s game development?"

Lei Hui replied, "Based on their timeline, they should finish development in about a month and a half."

"Then we’ll wait," Lin Xuan said, narrowing his eyes. "Release ours a month and a half later."

"As for testing, secretly hire some gamers to test it. Keep it under wraps—no leaks," Lin Xuan added sternly.

Lei Hui couldn’t help but ask, "Boss, what’s your plan…?"

Lin Xuan smirked. "I’m going to make Starlight Group bleed a little. And have them advertise our game for free. Once it’s released, we’ll just sit back and reap the rewards."

"Understood," Lei Hui said, realization dawning.

Having followed Lin Xuan since the company’s founding, Lei Hui was well acquainted with his boss’s tactics.

As expected, the boss was as cunning as ever—even unwilling to spend a single cent on game promotion.

This time, Starlight Group’s CEO, Lin Chang, would probably be fuming when his own son outmaneuvered him again.

Lei Hui couldn’t wait to see the drama unfold.

Starlight Group thought they could steal Skyline Group’s game, but they had no idea they’d been walking into a trap from the very beginning.

Once the game situation was settled, Starlight Group would be dealt a heavy blow—likely crippling their ability to compete with Skyline Group in the future.

"But…" Lei Hui hesitated. "Boss, once they finish development in a month and a half, they’ll likely need additional time for internal testing. With your plan to release our game on major platforms right after, isn’t a month and a half too soon?"

"Not at all," Lin Xuan said with certainty. "Once Starlight Group completes their game, we’ll leak news about our impending release to them."

"I want them to feel the pressure."

At that point, Lin Chang would rush to dominate the market, skipping testing entirely to launch their game.

And just like that, he’d fall straight into the trap.

"Boss, I’ll arrange everything as you’ve instructed," Lei Hui nodded.

Lin Xuan continued, "Next, all employees who worked on Honor of Kings will get three weeks of paid leave."

"After that, we’ll develop some mini-games."

Lei Hui frowned. "Mini-games? The profits from those can’t possibly interest you, Boss."

"The earnings won’t be huge," Lin Xuan glanced at him. "But if we don’t develop them, you’ll all be sitting around with nothing to do for a long time. Did I hire you to twiddle your thumbs?"

Lei Hui: "…"

The boss’s capitalist nature was showing loud and clear.

"What kind of mini-games do you have in mind?" Lei Hui asked.

Lin Xuan replied, "Two small games—Jump Jump and Sheep a Sheep."

Lei Hui frowned.

What kind of names were those?

Lin Xuan added, "I’ll send you the detailed development plan this afternoon."

"Got it," Lei Hui acknowledged.

"Oh, and Boss," Lei Hui reported, "Wolf Warrior ended its theatrical run yesterday with a total box office of 5.8 billion, breaking the domestic box office record."

"Hmm," Lin Xuan nodded calmly.

He wasn’t surprised. Wolf Warrior had been a massive hit in another world, and this time, with no strong competitors during its release window, its reputation and box office performance had soared unchallenged.

"Boss," Lei Hui grinned, "With our company producing back-to-back hit TV shows and movies, and our actors skyrocketing in popularity, Starlight Group won’t be able to hinder our growth in the entertainment industry anymore."

Who would’ve thought that a company barely over a year old could render an industry giant like Starlight Group powerless to fight back?

From now on, Starlight Group would have to make way for Skyline Group in the entertainment world.

"Hmm," Lin Xuan remained expressionless.

Lei Hui couldn’t hold back. "Boss, our movie Wolf Warrior just broke the domestic box office record. After deductions, our company’s profit is at least over two billion. Shouldn’t you show some reaction?"

The boss was way too composed.

Anyone else would’ve popped champagne for such a success. But the boss? Just a slight nod—not even a smile.

Lin Xuan looked puzzled. "We already knew this was coming. Why would I be excited?"

"…Alright," Lei Hui gave up.

Lin Xuan continued, "After deducting costs, distribute 70 million from the movie’s profits as bonuses to everyone involved in its production."

"Will do," Lei Hui nodded.

With everything arranged, Lin Xuan left.

—

Starlight Group.

Lin Qingwan knocked and entered the chairman’s office.

"Dad," she placed a data report on Lin Chang’s desk. "Our movie’s box office numbers are in."

Lin Chang picked up the document.

His brows furrowed deeply at the figures. "What’s this? Why are the numbers so low?"

Only 300 million at the box office?

After splitting with theaters, their company’s share was barely over 100 million.

This was a sci-fi film—excluding marketing costs, production alone had cost 700 million!

He’d been so confident in its success that Starlight Group had fully funded it.

And yet… it flopped spectacularly.

"Dad," Lin Qingwan said quietly, "Our movie’s reviews were terrible. People just didn’t want to watch it."

Lin Chang clenched his fists.

"Lin Xuan… what a brilliant move. To think he could smear such a well-made film like this."

Their movie was excellent—it was only because Lin Xuan had deliberately tarnished its reputation that it performed so poorly.

Lin Qingwan couldn’t help but say, "Dad, I watched Skyline Group’s Wolf Warrior. It really is outstanding. Losing to them… isn’t unexpected."

As for their own film?

The plot was shallow and disjointed, the acting unconvincing, and the characters hard to take seriously.

Even she had walked out of the theater halfway through.

On the other hand, Wolf Warrior is meticulously produced, a patriotic main melody film that perfectly aligns with the audience's preferences.